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5 Australes Rhenium
| Issuer | Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territories) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2006 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 7.1 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | 5n. pru eba AUSTRALES |
| Reverse description | Stylised representation of a radiant sun rendered in low relief at the centre of the field, with schematic rays and landscape elements suggested in a modernist design vocabulary. Additional decorative motifs appear in the lower field. The encircling legend reads '·ISLAS MALVINAS· ARGT.' with the date '20 06' divided across the upper field, asserting Argentine territorial claim over the Falkland Islands. |
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| Additional information |
Rhenium is one of the rarest stable elements on Earth, with annual global production historically under 50 tonnes — making its use as a coinage metal essentially theatrical rather than monetary. The Falkland Islands issued this piece as a collector curiosity, exploiting the territory's nominal issuing authority to produce something no sovereign mint with practical constraints would sanction.
Rhenium's melting point of 3,186°C is the second highest of any element, which raises uncomfortable questions about how these were actually struck.